Decaffeinated coffee - what you can get - when we drink it, and why

 My son, A, our son - my husband reminds me, has half a dozen brands of decaffeinated coffee in his kitchen cupboard. We went back to have coffee with him and his wife after an evening meal at a restaurant which did not serve decaffeinated coffee.

He told us: "When I go to a new supermarket or sees a new line on sale at our regular shops I buy it. I drink only decaffeinated coffee, now. I drink a lot of coffee through the day. I used to get jittery. I started cutting out one or two cups late at night, found I was feeling and acting better, gradually increased the decaf until I was totally decaf."

I had a similar experience, not with feeling jittery in the day, but not sleeping at night. I told a GP (UK for general practitioner, meaning a family doctor) that I was having trouble sleeping. He suggested that I drink coffee to keep myself awake only twice in the morning, once with breakfast, once with elevenses.

 Then have a decaf at lunchtime. 

Decaf according to what I have read is not entirely without caffeine, but reduces it to a very low level. To be completely free of caffeine, you must cut out coffee altogether. 

And cut out and tea. Also cut out caffeinated colas and energy drinks. Just read the labels. Or read about them online.. The manufacturer's own site might tell you. Wikipedia will give you links. If you replace coffee by teas and energy drinks, you might not get the full effect. 

The strong coffee you drink to wake yourself up after a large dinner is served in a small cup, for good reason. Italians do not drink strong after dinner coffee in the morning. They think we are weird asking for it in Italian restaurants on holiday. We used to think they were hostile or unhelpful for not offering it, or declining to serve it, or looking puzzled. Now we know to ask if they can do it, smile and make a joke of it.

Villeroy and Boch cup and saucer. Decaf cappuccino at The Heron, Heronsgate. The restaurant is described in a previous post.

Cup with reflection of saucer. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

We have decaf capsules Nespresso. I used to find them lacking in aroma, but tasting bitter. However, adding milk and water took away the bitterness. They have added another decaf coffee.

Where to buy decaffeinated coffee? 

1 At your usual supermarkets.

2 At supermarkets you don't normally visit because they are too cheap, too dear, too far, you are on business, you don't need food right now. 

3 Look in big brand coffee shops such as Starbucks and Costa. 

4 Your lesser known family run coffee shop or Italian or French coffee shop. Check online. 

Useful Websites

https://www.nescafe.com/gb/coffee-types/what-is-a-decaf-coffee/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaffeination

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